Anomalies in External Construction Elements in Spain according to Cause-Damage Relationship

Abstract

This paper’s objective is to determine the usual typologies of deficiencies in external construction elements, identifying the most frequently recurring anomalies by analyzing all judicial complaints pertaining to construction in Spain between the years 2008 and 2010. A total of 368 anomalies were identified in 1,166 records of judicial complaints related to external construction elements. The types of damages with the highest number of cases are settling (22.55%) and bulging and/or tenting of floor cladding (20.38%). The causes with the highest prevalence are deficient ground compaction (26.36%) and characteristics of the material or of its finishing (16.03%). The construction elements in which anomalies arise most frequently are outdoor flooring and perimeter footpaths, representing 67.93% of the total. The most frequent cause-damage relationship is that of settling caused by deficient ground compaction. The methodology used and the results obtained through this research contribute to optimizing construction quality, allowing designers and site managers to easily detect the most common damages along with their causes. As a result, they will be able to act with an awareness of the origin of problems and avoid issues in other situations.